Howe has come under pressure this season for Newcastle’s poor Premier League form
Chelsea would love to have Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe, according to Paul Merson
Newcastle United have been warned Chelsea would take Eddie Howe ‘tomorrow’ if they part company with their under fire head coach at the end of the season.
The West London club are on the lookout for a new manager after parting company with Liam Rosenior last week after just three months in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Howe has seen pressure over his position at St James’ Park grow in recent weeks with Newcastle languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table with just four matches remaining.
Some of the trends in their league form have been alarming but the Magpies still reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, last 16 of the Champions League and the fifth round of the FA Cup this term.
And while this season has fallen below expectations, Howe has exceeded them in his previous three seasons at the club, guiding United to two cup finals, two Champions League finishes and a first trophy for 56 years.
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If you add those achievements to the job he did at Bournemouth, taking them from League Two to the Premier League across two spells, then Howe is set to be a man in demand if and when he leaves Newcastle.
At present, he retains the backing of the club’s decision makers but should he leave, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes clubs will be ‘queueing up’ to appoint Howe as their next manager.
“I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe. If Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle, they’ll be queueing up around the corner for him,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“So that tells you everything. Be careful Newcastle. Chelsea would take him tomorrow morning, you’d like to think so wouldn’t you? In my opinion, they’d take him all day long. We’re talking about a next England manager, 100 per cent.
“As I say, everybody would be queueing up to take Eddie Howe, he’s a top manager. He’s just had injuries and with the [Alexander] Isak thing at the end of the season. I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club. I think there’s a genuine love for him up there.”
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp backed up Merson’s claims, suggesting he has earned the right to ‘decide whatever he wants’ at Newcastle.
“I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club I think there’s a genuine love for him up there,” Redknapp added.
“I think the fans will be disappointed with the season, understandably. I think they’re 14th in the league. They’ll have expected a lot more when you look at what they’ve done previously. He deserves the opportunity and the luxury of deciding what happens.
“There might come to a point at the end of the season Eddie thinks, ‘I’ve maybe taken this group as far as I can’. There’s obviously something not right there and the performances haven’t been acceptable.”